ArticleCanadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique2023
Operating an overdose prevention site within a temporary emergency shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article in Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Insights from COVID-19 pandemic-era innovations at the intersection of homelessness and substance use: in-depth qualitative interviews with key informants.Harm reduction journal · 2026Article
- Innovations at the intersection of homelessness and substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review.Harm reduction journal · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
settingA temporary emergency shelter was established inside the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta, to reduce COVID-19 transmission and mitigate health risks among people experiencing homelessness.
interventionA non-profit organization, Boyle Street Community Services, opened an overdose prevention site (OPS) between February and March 2022 inside the temporary emergency shelter. People accessed the shelter-based OPS to consume unregulated drugs (via injection, intranasally, or orally), receive medical aid, access sterile drug use equipment, and be connected to additional health and social supports, without leaving the shelter. We conducted short interviewer-administered surveys with OPS participants to examine participant views and identify suggested improvements. OUTCOMES: The shelter-based OPS was accessed a total of 1346 times by 174 unique people. Fentanyl was the most common self-reported drug consumed (59%) and most consumption (99% of episodes) was by injection. OPS staff responded to 66 overdoses and reported no deaths. Survey respondents reported that the shelter-based OPS was convenient, with no need to forfeit their shelter spot or find transportation to another OPS. Respondents indicated that the OPS felt safe and accessible and reported that it reduced drug use in other shelter areas. Participants identified the OPS' exclusion of inhalation as a limitation. IMPLICATIONS: People who use unregulated drugs and are experiencing homelessness are at a higher risk of negative health outcomes, which COVID-19 exacerbated. Integrating temporary shelter/housing and harm reduction services may be an innovative way to lower barriers, increase accessibility, and improve well-being for this structurally vulnerable population. Future operators should consider incorporating inhalation services to further reduce service gaps.
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